New training designed to help Philly sheriff’s office improve interactions with people on the autism spectrum

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For several years, the Philadelphia Sheriff’s office has been working to better serve city residents on the autism spectrum.

Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s office says it’s the first law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania to be named a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. 

The recognition comes two years after the sheriff’s office launched a decal program for families with members on the autism spectrum. The stickers feature the intertwined logos of the sheriff’s office and the puzzle logo often used to represent autism. They alert law enforcement that someone in a home or riding in a car may be on the autism spectrum.

“We stood as a collective, as an office of officers and sworn personnel and professional staff to let the city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania know that we not only we designed a decal and implemented a decal, but we ensured that our officers and staff went through intensive training,” said assistant director of community outreach Darryl Roberts, who has a child on the autism spectrum. “This is just the beginning.”

“They may react differently. They may speak differently. We don’t want anyone to think someone who is autistic is aggressive to them,” Roberts said. 

He added that sometimes, people with autism react differently, especially in stressful or loud scenarios.

“In this training, deputies and professional staff learn what autism is, how to communicate and interact with autistic individuals, and the best practices on safety and de-escalating in specific scenarios.”

The initiative has already reached more than 350 families, according to the sheriff’s office.

Research indicates that people with developmental disabilities, including autism, will have up to seven times more contact with law enforcement than a member of the general population

The decals are available for free from the sheriff’s office. Bilal hopes other law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and around the country will undergo similar training.